Mariagrot van Kleit

Mariagrot van Kleit is the largest Lourdes grotto in Flanders — a Marian shrine tucked inside a green devotional park on the edge of Kleit, a village within the municipality of Maldegem in East Flanders, right next to the N44 highway exit.

Where did this grotto come from?

The story starts shortly after the Second World War. Local parish priest Jozef Brewée wanted to recreate the famous grotto of Lourdes in the rectory garden, on land that once belonged to the former Kluisbos woodland. Construction ran from 1950 to 1952, designed by Laurent Cromheecke. The builders used concrete slabs salvaged from the wartime airfield near Ursel — turning material once tied to conflict into a place of peace and prayer. That symbolic transformation, materials of war repurposed into a site of devotion, gives the grotto a layer of meaning beyond its religious architecture alone.

How big is the grotto, really?

The scale is what surprises most visitors: the structure measures 18 meters long, 13 meters wide, and rises to 9.5 meters high. Those dimensions make it the largest Lourdes grotto anywhere in Flanders, drawing not only pilgrims but also visitors curious about 20th-century religious architecture. In 2004, the grotto and its surrounding grounds were officially listed as a protected monument, cementing its status as local heritage.

What else is on the grounds?

The grotto itself sits within a much larger pilgrimage site. A wide processional path winds around it, lined with fifteen small chapels, each offering a stop for prayer or quiet reflection. The complex also includes a chapel dedicated to Saint Rita, patron saint of impossible causes, along with a Calvary chapel. Together, the buildings, greenery, and layout form a cohesive devotional park rather than a single isolated monument.

Is it still an active pilgrimage site?

Yes. Mariagrot Kleit continues to function as a living shrine — regional pilgrimages and Marian devotions still take place here, and the site remains under the care of the local Holy Trinity parish in Maldegem. In recent years, the grounds have also seen further development aimed at strengthening its role as a pilgrimage destination, showing this is far from a static historical relic.

Who should visit?

Mariagrot van Kleit attracts a mix of visitors: pilgrims and believers seeking quiet space for prayer, and travelers simply interested in local history and the unusual story of sacred architecture built from repurposed wartime materials. Walking the processional path past its fifteen chapels makes for a calm, contemplative route regardless of one's own faith — the setting and spatial composition of the park are worth experiencing on their own.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the grotto located? On the Halledreef in Kleit, part of the Maldegem municipality, close to the N44 highway exit.

When was it built? Between 1950 and 1952, at the initiative of parish priest Jozef Brewée.

What makes it special? Its size — the largest Lourdes grotto in Flanders — and the story of its construction materials, sourced from a wartime airfield.

Can visitors walk through it? Yes, the devotional park is open to the public and still serves as an active shrine and destination for regional pilgrimages.